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Transmission of Campylobacter spp. to chickens during transport to slaughter
Author(s) -
Hansson I.,
Ederoth M.,
Andersson L.,
Vågsholm I.,
Olsson Engvall E.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2005.02689.x
Subject(s) - biosecurity , zoonosis , library science , public health , medicine , veterinary medicine , pathology , computer science
Aims: To determine the prevalence of Campylobacter ‐contaminated transport crates and to determine whether contaminated crates represent a risk for contamination of chickens during transport to slaughter. Methods and Results: Samples were collected from cleaned transport crates before they were dispatched to the farms. Chicken groups were sampled within 24 h before transport to slaughter and at the slaughterhouse. Campylobacter spp. were isolated from 69 of 122 (57%) sampled batches of transport crates. Twenty‐six slaughter groups, negative at farm level, were transported in batches of crates from which Campylobacter spp. had been isolated. In 11 (42%) of these 26 slaughter groups, Campylobacter spp. were found in samples taken at slaughter. The corresponding figure for at‐farm‐negative slaughter groups transported in negative crates was four (15%) testing positive at slaughterhouse of 27 slaughter groups [relative risk (RR) = 2·9, 95% CI 1·1–7·3]. In four of 11 slaughter groups, genetic subtyping by pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis was able to support the hypothesis of contamination from crates to chickens during transport to slaughter. Conclusions: Despite washing and disinfection, crates were frequently contaminated with Campylobacter and it could have contaminated chickens during transport to slaughter. Significance and Impact of the Study: Campylobacter ‐positive crates are a risk factor for chickens testing campylobacter‐positive at slaughter.